The title of this collection of essays refers to a tailor’s mannequin that Alfred Brendel spotted in a shop window in Arezzo, a small Tuscan town. Who is this strange lady? And why is she carrying an egg on her head? What is she looking at? The mannequin was purchased and now graces a room in the attic of Brendel’s house in Hampstead. Her features convey great artistic seriousness in combination with absurd comedy: the epitome of his own musical and literary preferences. And so, in his delightful new collection, great masters of nonsense meet great masters of music. Born in 1931 in Wiesenberg, Alfred Brendel is an acclaimed pianist worldwide, universally acknowledged to be one of the most important performers of twentieth-century classical and romantic music. Although he has bidden farewell to the concert stage, he continues to give masterclasses and readings. As a writer, he has made a name for himself as an essayist and poet. He lives in London. Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse next working day.